Do They Know it's Christmas Time At All?
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
The story of Band Aid
Band Aid is a British and Irish supergroup, formed in 1984 by Bob Geldoff, the lead singer of the Boomtown Rats, after a day in the studio Bob turned on the TV and saw BBC coverage of the famine in Ethiopia and was appalled. Along with his wife at the time Paula Yates he decided that he needed to do something.
A charity record was decided to be the best idea. Geldoff enlisted the help of Midge Ure (Ultravox) to create the backing track before calling many of the most famous British and Irish performers to try and get them to play on the track.
He wanted them to devote their time for free as any proceeds from the track would go towards helping those in Ethiopia. As well as asking some of the biggest stars of the time Geldoff also used a Radio 1 appearance to promote Band Aid instead of new Boomtown Rats material.
The song was recorded in one day 25 November 1984. And then released on 3rd December 1984, it went straight in at number one and became the fastest selling single of all time. Staying on the top spot for 5 weeks!
In order to make the song what it is, the musicians had a vital role. Each taking a line. To sing. In total 37 vocalists are present on the track, as seen below.
- Robert "Kool" Bell (Kool & the Gang)
- Bono (U2)
- Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats)
- Adam Clayton (U2)
- Phil Collins (Genesis and solo artist)
- Chris Cross (Ultravox)
- Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats)
- Sara Dallin (Bananarama)
- Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)
- Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats)
- Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats)
- Boy George (Culture Club)
- Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17)
- Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)
- John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)
- Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
- Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
- Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
- Marilyn
- George Michael (Wham!)
- Jon Moss (Culture Club)
- Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)
- Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
- Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)
- Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
- Sting (The Police)
- Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)
- James "J.T." Taylor (Kool & the Gang)
- John Taylor (Duran Duran)
- Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)
- Dennis Thomas (Kool & the Gang)
- Midge Ure (Ultravox)
- Martyn Ware (Heaven 17)
- Jody Watley
- Paul Weller (The Style Council)
- Keren Woodward (Bananarama)
- Paul Young
Geldoff’s big idea worked. The song raised both awareness and much needed funds for the famine in Ethiopia. In total around $160 million was raised.
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